Protective sleeve for elbow or heel



May 30, 1967 1 SOTHERLIN 3,322,118

PROTECTIVE SLEEV FOR ELBOW OR HEEL Filed July 13, 1964 INVENTOR. LOISSQTHERL//v United States Patent O 3,322,118 PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR ELBOWOR HEEL Lois Sotherlin, 607 W. th St., San Bernardino, Calif. 92410Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,073 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-149) The presentinvention relates to a new and useful protective sleeve that is adaptedto be worn on the elbow or foot of a bed patient to protect and cushionthe skin on the corner of the elbow or at the back of the heel, so thatit will not become tender and painfully sensitive from constant pressureand frictional contact with the bedding.

Patients who are confined to bed for extended periods of time duringillness or convalescence frequently develop bed sores on the elbows andheels owing to pressure of the elbows and heels against the bottom sheeton the bed, and to frictional rubbing of the sheet against these partseach time the body is moved. A similar condition -occurs frequently inwheel-chair patients, who must sit for long periods of time with elbowsresting on the arm rests. In either case, the condition sometimesbecomes extremely painful, and is a source of much discomfort anddistress to the patient.

Heretofore, it has sometimes been necessary to bandage the elbows ofbedridden patients to protect them from the bedding, but this is not asatisfactory solution to the problem, as a bandage that is thick enoughto cushion the elbow properly is too bulky for comfort, and tends torestrict movement of the arm. Also, a bandage that is wrapped too snuglyaround the arm may constrict circulation somewhat, causing discomfort.Moreover, it is time-consuming and troublesome to remove or replacebandages.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a protective sleevefor cushioning and protecting the elbow or heel, which can be pulledonto the arm or foot as quickly and as easily as a mitten or a sockmight be pulled on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective sleeve thataffords a maximum of cushion directly over the point of the elbow or atthe back of the heel, where it is needed, and a minimum of bulkelsewhere, so that there is no objectionable restraint of movement, oruncomfortable constriction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protective cushioningsleeve for the elbow or heel, that is highly absorbent so that it willabsorb perspiration, and readily washable so that it can be keptsanitary at all times.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a protective sleeve embodying theprinciples of the invention, showing how it is worn on the elbow;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same, taken at 2-2 in FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken at 3 3in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken at 4-4 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, showing how the sleeve of the inventionis worn on the foot to protect the heel.

In the drawings, the protective sleeve of the invention is seen tocomprise a tubular knit sleeve of cotton or other absorbent fiber, whichmay be at knit (or stockinet knit) for the greater portion of itslength, with elastic Fice ribbed cuffs 11 and 12 at the ends thereof.Preferably, the knit tube 10 is turned in on itself from one end to forma double thickness sleeve, having an outer layer 13 and an inner layer14. At the other end of the tube, the ends of the outer and inner layers13 and 14 are folded inwardly on themselves and stitched together vat15, as best shown in FIGURE 4.

On one side of the tube 10 about midway between its ends, the uniformstockinet knit is interrupted by a wedgeshaped insert portion 16, whichis shaped to form an out! wardly protruding bulge, similar to the heelon a sock. Enclosed between the outer layer 13 and inner layer 14, inthe area of the insert portion 16, is a round, slightly cupped, foamrubber pad 18, the edges of which are tapered down to a feather edge.The pad 18 is preferably adhered to the outer layer 13 of the tube by aspot of cement 20 applied to the convex outer surface of the pad at thecenter thereof. In this way, the pad is held in place, and is preventedfrom slipping with respect to the knit tubing.

The outwardly bulged insert portion 16 and the slightly cupped foamrubber pad 18, with its tapered edges, give a contoured sleeve thatsmoothly fits the normally slightlybent elbow, and accommodates itselfto any movement of the arm. While the dimensions of the invention arenot critical, and might vary with the size of the patient, I have foundthat for the average adult, a sleeve that is about 7 inches long andabout 41/2 `inches wide when lying at and relaxed, is about right. Thecontoured foam rubber pad 18 should be about 31/2 to 4 inches indiameter and about 1A to 1/2 inch thick at its center.

If desired, the knit tubing 10 might be made in a single thickness ofmaterial except for a partial lining covering the inner surface of thefoam rubber pad 18. Either the full lining shown in the drawing (i.e.,inner layer 14) or the partial lining mentioned above could be knit toprovide a reinforced heel area directly over the point of the elbow,similar to the insert portion 16, if desired for longer wear.

If it is desired to use the invention to protect and cushion the heel,the knit sleeve 10 is pulled onto the foot as shown in FIGURE 5, withthe insert portion 16 and cushion pad 18 at the back of the heel. Whenworn in this manner, the sleeve of the invention provides fullycushioned protection for the heel.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail what I believeto be the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes may be made without departingfrom the principles of the invention as set forth in the followingclaim.

I claim:

A protectiver sleeve for use by a patient confined to wheel chair orbed, for the purpose of cushioning the elbow or heel, comprising:

a tubular knit sleeve of a size to it snugly over the arm or foot of thepatient, said sleeve being stretchable in either direction and beingknit of a moistureabsorbent yarn;

said sleeve being formed with a double thickness and having an innerlayer and an outer layer;

the ends of said sleeve being formed with rib-knit cuffs for maximumstretchability and snug iit;

at least the outer layer of said sleeve being knit to provide anoutwardly bulged generally spherically curved portion on one sidethereof corresponding to the heel of a sock, said outwardly bulgedportion being formed approximately midway between the ends of saidsleeve;

a generally round, slightly cupped pad of foam rubber disposed withinsaid sleeve between said inner and 3 4 outer layers thereof, andpositioned with the convex References Cited side of the pad facingoutwardly and contacting the UNITED STATES PATENTS inner surface of saidoutwardly bulged portion of said sleeve, said convex side havingsubstantially 2449410 9/1948 Pohnsky 2"204X 3,189,919 6/1965 Chase 2-24X the same spherical curvature as said outwardly 5 bulged portion; theconcave side of said pad being inwardly faced to FOREIGN PATENTS receivethe point of the patients elbowor heel, and 534,930 12/ 1956 Canada.

the edges of saidtpad tapering to feather edges; and 6,552 1896 GreatBritain. cement means securing said pad to said outer layer 10 Y only ofsaid sleeve, whereby said pad is prevented JORDAN FRANKLIN, PrimaryExaminerfrom a slipping or shifting out of place and said inner layer ofsaid sleeve may move relative to said pad. A' R- GUEST Assistant Examine

